Apple to unveil smart-home lineup, including first HomePod-style display, at October event

Apple’s second fall event on October 13, titled “Welcome home,” is set to mark a renewed push into the smart-home market. Reporters say the centerpiece will be a new smart display, called the HomePad, which combines a 6-inch square screen with a HomePod-style speaker and runs a tvOS-based “homeOS” that supports touch and Siri AI interactions. The device is also expected to recognize who is looking at it and adjust content accordingly, without using Face ID.

Alongside the HomePad, Apple will likely refresh the HomePod mini in several colors and equip it with a newer chip, while the Apple TV 4K will receive an A19 processor and a revised remote. The company is also partnering with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric to provide smart locks, doorbells, thermostats and temperature sensors that work within Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem, though these accessories may be sold under the partners’ names.